LUCKNOW: Minister of State for Institutional Finance Amarmani Tripathi has strongly denied all charges of kidnapping and land- grabbing, labelled against him. In a dramatic press conference here on Wednesday, the minister produced the husband of the Tharu woman, Samunara Devi, who, it is alleged, had been kidnapped by him and her land grabbed for the construction of a school.

Raghuvansh, the man produced before the media by the minister, is a resident of Bistauli village under Campereganj police station in Maharajganj district, and was was accompanied by his son. He produced a copy of the FIR lodged by him at Nautanwa police station in which he had alleged that his wife had been taken away on May 26 by two persons who were named in the FIR. The man in tears wanted his wife back.

Amar Mani Tripathi said that Raghuvansh had complained about the case on Monday when he was on tour to his constituency. Tripathi said that he had brought Raghuvansh and his son to Lucknow to produce them before the Chief Minister and ask for his help.

Tripathi alleged that his political rivals were bent upon his character assassination in this election year and that's why they are coming forward with such malicious charges.